Free tool
Car shaking, humming or thumping?
A vibration or noise can come from the tires, the wheels, the alignment, the brakes or a wheel bearing. Answer three questions about when it happens, where you feel it and what you hear, and see up to four possible causes, strongest match first, with the service that checks each. It's a simple rules table, not a diagnosis, so have it inspected.
The tool
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Shake, hum or thump?
Answer three questions. See possible causes, strongest match first, and which service checks each one.
Your answers: At highway speed · Steering wheel · Nothing unusual
Possible causes, strongest match first
- Wheel out of balance.Checked by: Tire balancingMatched: at highway speed (+3), felt in the steering wheel (+2).
- Tire out of round or a separated belt.Checked by: Tire inspectionMatched: at highway speed (+2).
- Bent wheel.Checked by: Wheel inspectionMatched: at highway speed (+2).
- Alignment wear on the tread.Checked by: Alignment checkMatched: felt in the steering wheel (+1).
This ranking is a simple rules table, not a diagnosis. Have it inspected. A new vibration, or a tire you can see is damaged, needs a look soon.
How the list is ranked
Each answer adds points to the causes it is linked to in a fixed rules table. Causes with more points are listed first, a tie keeps the table's order, and at most 4 are shown. The points only order the list; they are not odds, and only an inspection can tell what is causing it.
Tell us what you answered here when you book.
Sources: Michelin, Car Handling Problems (opens in a new tab); Michelin, Tread Problems (opens in a new tab)
Text version of this demo
Answer when a noise or vibration happens, where you feel it and what you hear to see up to four possible causes, such as balance, a tire or wheel problem, alignment wear, brake rotors or a wheel bearing, with the service that checks each. The list comes from a simple rules table, not a diagnosis, so have it inspected.
Step by step
How to use it
- Pick when it happens: at highway speed, when braking, when turning, all the time or at low speed.
- Pick where you feel it: the steering wheel, the seat or floor, the brake pedal, or nowhere because you only hear it.
- Pick what you hear, if anything.
- Read the list, then book an inspection and tell us what you answered.
Questions
The things people ask next
Why does my steering wheel shake at highway speed?
A wheel out of balance is a common cause of a shake you feel in the steering wheel at highway speed. A tire that's out of round, a separated belt or a bent wheel can feel similar. A technician can check the balance and look over the tires and wheels.
Why does the car shake when I brake?
A vibration you feel through the brake pedal or steering wheel when braking can point to warped or worn brake rotors. Have the brakes inspected.
What does a hum that gets louder with speed mean?
Uneven or cupped tread and a worn wheel bearing can both make a hum or roar that rises with speed. They're hard to tell apart by ear, so have it inspected.
Is this a diagnosis?
No. The list comes from a fixed rules table: each answer adds points to the causes it's linked to, and the points only order the list. Only an inspection can tell what's causing it.
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